It's Wednesday, and time to answer some questions about the upcoming DLC for Crusader Kings II; Legacy of Rome. The focus of this mini-expansion is going to be the Byzantine Empire and the Orthodox church. First off, in order to clear up any confusion from the original announcement, it's a bit smaller in scope than the Sword of Islam so the price is set at $5.99. While I say it's smaller in scope, if you include all the stuff we're adding for free in the accompanying patch (v1.07) it's probably about the same size as SoI and v1.06.

So, let's take a look at what's in the DLC and what's in patch 1.07...

LEGACY OF ROME DLC

• Retinue system. If you don't have the DLC, you won't see the new interface and you cannot hire retinues (and neither will the AI.) The technology that controls the max size of your retinue and relative decrease of normal levy sizes simply does not have this effect without the DLC.
• Orthodox Councillor models
• Major Decisions for the Byzantine Empire
• Byzantine Events

Oh, and we're taking another tack with the DLC this around - if you don't own the DLC, the AI won't be using the new mechanics or events either. Also, from now on in multiplayer mode, the host will control which DLCs are active.

PATCH 1.07

• Faction system. Replaces many existing plots and normal revolt mechanics with factions.
• Personal Improvement Ambitions
• Orthodox Patriarch system
• Have both a Plot and an Ambition at the same time
• Revised levy raising. (You raise a single, large levy from each direct vassal. The opinions of vassals of vassals are irrelevant.)
• Leader Focus on Combat
• More Cultural Buildings
• Improved AI
• Bug fixes (of course)

I will talk about all these features in detail in upcoming dev diaries, but for now, that's all!

 

[TheChronoMaster]

Given that the Pentarcy itself is a game mechanic, there's going to be something going on. Judging from the screenie that shows the 5 sees, with Rome vacant, it seems likely that it will be possible to install an Orthodox Patriarch of Rome, even while there's Catholic Pope.

I'd bet on if you manage to reclaim Rome.


The Pope will get a casus belli on you, as would all catholic nations, if you were not recognized as the legitimate roman empire. Ending the great schism, on both sides, should totally be a mechanic though. It was still very recent at this point.

 

[Closet Skeleton]

Since retinue size is tied to tech, Muslims with their high tech will be able to field Mamlukes without being limited to that one vassalised mercenary only one group gets. From one of the really late starts then you can represent the Janissaries with this.

 

[candelarius]

I don't see a mention of fixing the Mac Intel HD3000 issue (most Macbook users cannot start the game, unless they turn off terrain rendering).....will that not be in the 1.07 patch? For most Mac users, the game is currently utterly unplayable....

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

Given that the Pentarcy itself is a game mechanic, there's going to be something going on. Judging from the screenie that shows the 5 sees, with Rome vacant, it seems likely that it will be possible to install an Orthodox Patriarch of Rome, even while there's Catholic Pope.

True, though it doesnt say that the Pentarchy is a game mechanic like in EU3, only that its possible to install an orthodox bishop there. Well, there would actually be a Pentarchy, but that doesnt mean the papacy to dissolve, yet. But probably soon.

Isnt the Pentarchy universal and by thus only possible if the papacy dissolves ? If so , you may understand what i was up to. Just because there are the necessary 5 orthodox bishops, as long a the papacy exists, its still not the Pentarchy.
Anyway, i'm not that far off your coast.

 

[cybrxkhan]

Speaking of bishops and all - what if a Catholic or Pagan state somehow converts to Orthodoxy? Like Lithuania turning Orthodox (happened in a couple of my games), or Scotland, or the Golden Horde or something (heard that happen a few times)? I assume this means there will be a new appointable patriarch for those new orthodox states.

 

[thekinguter]

If only emperors could have retinues, it would be an awesome feature..

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

Speaking of bishops and all - what if a Catholic or Pagan state somehow converts to Orthodoxy? Like Lithuania turning Orthodox (happened in a couple of my games), or Scotland, or the Golden Horde or something (heard that happen a few times)? I assume this means there will be a new appointable patriarch for those new orthodox states.

From the Announcement

Appoint Orthodox Patriarchs: Orthodox kingdoms and empires can now control their own heads of religion and their powers, instead of being dependent on the patriarch of Constantinople

 

[gamer42_au]

Question - if we get Legacy of Rome, but not Sword of Islam, we still need to upgrade to version 1.07.
How does the game handle elements in 1.07 intended to relate to Sword of Islam elements.

 

[Saranis]

Thanks, this has cleared up a lot of my confusion. The Newsletter had me thinking that a lot of the features coming out in the patch were only for the expansion. I have only once played as a Byzantine duke (aside from the time that the Byzantine and HRE merged into one massive unstoppable clusterkitten) but this '"expansion" gives me reason to try them out again in preparation. If only I could drag myself away from Guild Wars 2....

 

[Imperator1993]

I can't wait for LoR to come out, any ideas when we could expect it I heard October?

 

[Veldmaarschalk]

Question - if we get Legacy of Rome, but not Sword of Islam, we still need to upgrade to version 1.07.
How does the game handle elements in 1.07 intended to relate to Sword of Islam elements.

All that SoI does is make Muslims selectable/playable with a new interface. All the features are in 1.06, so they are in your game also.

So yes you can upgrade to patch 1.07 without having to buy the SoI dlc.

 

[takedown47]

Retinues sound awesome, thanks for keep us informed about development. I'm assuming dev diaries for Legacy of Rome will come out every thursday, right?

 

[Revshawn]

So just to be clear, the stuff in the Patch is free right?

 

[Veldmaarschalk]

So just to be clear, the stuff in the Patch is free right?

Yes, patches are always free.

 

[Veldmaarschalk]

Retinues sound awesome, thanks for keep us informed about development. I'm assuming dev diaries for Legacy of Rome will come out every thursday, right?

Every wednesday

 

[Revshawn]

Yes, patches are always free.

Johan for US President 2012.

 

[Minigrinch]

Is anything being done about the speed of reinforcement?

I find it strange so much effort in the 5.2 beta of EU3 is being put into making manpower recovery realisticly sllow yet in this game they pull more men out of nowhere every few months.

 

[zonkie]

Make it the same price as SoI, add a purple interface, byzantine sprites and some orthodox flavour and it will be an instant buy.

 

[Joel M Bridge]

Make it the same price as SoI, add a purple interface, byzantine sprites and some orthodox flavour and it will be an instant buy.

Dying to see how work in on the fictation that election of emperors, and what makes a emperors legit, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Byzantine_usurpers

that alot of usurpers right successful later became legit eyes of historians.

 

[Slaxl]

Since i'm at work I can't read the whole thread just yet, so I apologise if this has been covered, but could someone tell me if...

Faction system. Replaces many existing plots and normal revolt mechanics with factions.

...means that when you do bad you won't get 12 separate revolts for independence, tyranny or whatever, but you will get 1 serious revolt that the vassals join?

Oh how I would so love that to be so.